Covid 19 - 2023 General discussion thread. (addicted, better, average, results)

[Mikala43]

Originally Posted by FlBeachIguana

I want to point out one more thing.

It's now 2023, COVID levels are higher than most of 2021 and similar to levels in 2022. It might feel different to you because pandemic protocols where you live are gone, but in reality viral transmission is the same.

So what's different about now when pandemic restrictions are dropped and in 2022? Nothing. You guys just gave up on the pandemic protocols, but nothing changed from a virus standpoint, at least since 2022.

So you guys are all Florida, you're just 2-3 years behind the curve.

Most of mid 2022 we ran nationally at 100K cases per day, 2023 has been less than half of that and falling. I'm not sure how you can say there is not a difference?

I check the cases per capita for my area (or where I will be traveling too) about once a week, also percent positive.We have 5 cases per 100,000 and have been in this range for awhile. That is much lower than what we had been seeing in earlier 2022.



I still don't go into large densely packed groups in poorly ventilated areas. But yeah,now that are numbers are much lower, we go to the gym, restaurants, stores and such with no precautions.

[Hoonose]

Originally Posted by FlBeachIguana

Incidentally, I tested + on a TB test before (have Abs). I was offered treatment, but declined. A lot of TB infections are asymptomatic in healthy individuals, and only a problem in immunocompromised people.

Even though there is a theory that once you had a TB infection, it can live in your body in some latent phase, and spring up later and cause severe disease, I'm not convinced looking at the evidence that's the case normally.

I can tell you that with my almost 50 years in medicine that your choice is not the standard of care. One big reason is that as you age your immune system naturally weakens. The prophylactic treatments are generally well tolerated. Your chances are about 1 in 10.

[FlBeachIguana]

Originally Posted by Mikala43

Most of mid 2022 we ran nationally at 100K cases per day, 2023 has been less than half of that and falling. I'm not sure how you can say there is not a difference?

Less testing, not less cases. CDC is now publishing estimates because they realize testing is far lower.

[in_newengland]

Closed but can reopen on a trial basis if people will discuss COVID.

[in_newengland]

This thread is for COVID discussion. That does not include debates about vaccines and it does not include off topic posts. Many posts were deleted but we shall try again. COVID DISCUSSION ONLY.

[Medical Lab Guy]

Originally Posted by FlBeachIguana

Less testing, not less cases. CDC is now publishing estimates because they realize testing is far lower.

The Public health Service in the US along with the CDC conduct surveillance of the population. One way it is done is via hospitals and most hospitals are testing for COVID, flu and RSV via PCR. USPHS takes sampling of such specimens and will do extensive testing to determine prevalent strains. These are still being reported to public health. They have numbers from a county level.

Hospitals have to test in order to diagnose and treat. There isn't less testing at the hospital level.

[FlBeachIguana]

Originally Posted by Medical Lab Guy

The Public health Service in the US along with the CDC conduct surveillance of the population. One way it is done is via hospitals and most hospitals are testing for COVID, flu and RSV via PCR. USPHS takes sampling of such specimens and will do extensive testing to determine prevalent strains. These are still being reported to public health. They have numbers from a county level.

Hospitals have to test in order to diagnose and treat. There isn't less testing at the hospital level.

The CDC is now adjusting all positive results with a multiple (multiplying by 4) because no one is getting COVID tests anymore unless they go to the hospital. Even if they take the rapid antigen test at home, they won't report.

[Mikala43]

Originally Posted by FlBeachIguana

The CDC is now adjusting all positive results with a multiple (multiplying by 4) because no one is getting COVID tests anymore unless they go to the hospital. Even if they take the rapid antigen test at home, they won't report.

Huh, that would be interesting, got a link?

[FlBeachIguana]

Originally Posted by Mikala43

Huh, that would be interesting, got a link?

CDC:

CDC is developing new methods and data sources for estimating the burden of COVID-19 to build a framework reflecting our evolving understanding of the virus.

Then

To better reflect the full burden of COVID-19, CDC provides estimates of COVID-19 infections, symptomatic illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths using statistical models to adjust for cases that national surveillance networks do not capture for a number of reasons. These estimates and the methodologies used to calculate them are published in Clinical Infectious Diseases and The Lancet Regional Health – Americas. These estimates will be updated periodically.

1 in 4.0 (95% UI* 3.4 – 4.7) COVID–19 infections were reported.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...es/burden.html

[Mikala43]

I've never seen any huge variations in case reporting from the CDC, generally speaking CDC numbers and NYT data tracker are similar, and THEY match my state's quad city reporting portal. I haven't seen any large discrepancies.